Jawbone

**DavidMGunther** · 08-15-2009, 06:35 AM

I'm having trouble getting my jawbone shaved correctly. I was told to open your jaw and go along the side so that some of the skin you shave goes back under but I get really bad razor burn. Any technique suggestions?

**gollum83** · 08-15-2009, 07:20 AM

Don't go along the side during your first pass unless that is the direction the grain is growing in. However, chances are it's probably growing in a N-S fashion, but it really does depend on the person. So check the way your beard grows in that area and shave with the grain there for at least the first pass. That should cut down if not eliminate razor burn.

And remember no pressure! Let the razor's weight do the work for you!

**SiBurning** · 08-15-2009, 12:41 PM

Opening then closing the jaw is good. So is figuring out how to go WTG for the first pass.

The grain on my jaw goes largely top to bottom and left to right on both sides, but because of the way I shave, I get best results going top-to-bottom, then bottom-to-top, then touching up back to front. This isn't the normal WTG, XTG, ATG because it's much harder to slide across the jawline from back to front, so that pass goes last.

Two points are, you should only be using grain direction as a guideline. Your preferred methods and your face have as much to do with it. Method shaves don't even think about grain direction. You might want to mix these up, choosing the traditional grain approach for some parts, method for others, and your own combination fo the third.

The main thing is to take the time to learn what's comfortable for your face and idiosynchrasies. If you want less irritation, you may need to settle for a lesser shave while you experiment. You can also choose to suffer some degree of irritation for the better shave while you're getting there.

**40boy** · 08-15-2009, 12:46 PM

Pull the skin up or or down to give yourself a smoother surface to shave

**DavidMGunther** · 08-16-2009, 04:06 PM

N-S??? Don't know what that means.

**michiganlover** · 08-16-2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by DavidMGunther

N-S??? Don't know what that means.

N-S = North-South pass. A pass that is generally straight down your face, starting from the top of your face, and ending at your neck.

**luvmysuper** · 08-16-2009, 05:05 PM

My facial hair (except neck) grows from top to bottom on the area between lip and nose and on the chin below the mouth, but it grows front to back on each side of my face, including the jaw. My first pass is top to bottom (XTG) including the jawline which I shave past by opening the mouth and bringing the skin at the jawline up over the edge of the jaw.
The second pass is ATG from below the ear toward the mouth, while pulling down slightly on the neck skin to tighten the jawline area.
Works for me.

**Psicko** · 08-16-2009, 07:02 PM

I usually pull the skin down, that makes it easier if the skin is pulled tight

**humber burns** · 08-16-2009, 07:26 PM

I find that in general 90% of jaw related irritation is due to excessive pressure which is compounded by a non flat shaving surface. The method I use for my jaw line is to shave as low on the jawline as possible with out making faces then you drop the jaws and get the rest. If like myself, you are fairly skinny and have skin that cling closely to your face this method may not work for the whole jawline, as I find my skin clings near the back corners causing concave areas which are imposible to shave. If this if the case I clench my jaw and work the angles, lightly. Hope this helps.

You can tell how much I over analyze my shaves.

**DavidMGunther** · 08-16-2009, 07:56 PM

Thanks for that tip. That sounds like a good one. I know what your talking about with the concave area, it's tough back there. Sometimes I think it might be worth getting a chubby face just the make it easier.

**humber burns** · 08-16-2009, 08:03 PM

I have a similar problem on the neck, I'm thinking of cultivating a double chin!

**BatNastard** · 08-16-2009, 08:10 PM

I found it was much easier to both get a flat surface and tell grain direction if I lean my head toward the side I'm shaving, thereby flattening the jawline. It's like the opposite of stretching, and requires some zen faith that you'll get smooth, but it works. I get much less irritation when I make my skin go slack.

**pmast** · 08-16-2009, 08:26 PM

If you can find it, watch Joel's video on shaving with a straight razor on YouTube. I believe its in Mantic's playlist. Even if you are not using a straight, the skin stretching that is demonstrated will help you get smoother shaves on problem areas with less irritation (It helped me a lot). Besides, you may want to try straights after watching the video.